Twitter reports bomb scare in Tottenham Court Road

Today there have been reports of a hostage situation in Tottenham Court Road. It is a bomb scare that is apparently not terrorist related, but a personal grievance. The news is spreading across Twitter and other social networking websites, warning people to stay away from central London.

“An area of central London has been sealed off today after a man said to have six canisters strapped to him “threatened to blow himself up”.

It was reported a man walked into a branch of Starbucks in London’s Tottenham Court Road and was holding people hostage.

Met Police said the Tottenham Court Road incident was not an act of terrorism, it was a man “with a grievance”.

A spokesperson said: “Police are attending a man who is causing a disturbance and criminal damage at an office building in Tottenham Court Road”

Police quickly cordoned off the street while nearby buildings were evacuated.” Yahoo News – Read more.

A lot of the information appearing through Twitter feeds are speculation at the moment, but you can find a witness statement in the video below. For live feeds on development of the situation, search for “Tottenham Court Road” on Twitter.